So I'm looking out for a large american style fridge freezer and have seen one about £150 miles away.

Assuming that it's in "new" condition as promised, I'm trying to do a deal. The seller has proposed I give him a "fuel deposit" before he comes and delivers it.

I guess a deposit for fuel is a good way to share the risk: I pay the seller £30 or whatever and they drive to me to deliver.

If the item checks out OK with no damage or missing parts, I pay the seller cash to take delivery and the seller drives back, paying for their own fuel on the way back. That way I get the fridge/freezer for whatever price we agree plus the £30 or whatever.

If however it doesn't check out OK and I refuse delivery, I don't get the fridge/freezer and will have lost the £30 or whatever, and the seller has to drive back with the fridge/freezer and that will cost the seller the same £30 or whatever.

If we agree the fuel deposit and item price, I would have to pay the seller somehow (PayPal?) and then pay the balance on satisfactory delivery of the fridge/freezer with no damage etc.

I've tried Shiply and uShip and have got a quote of £150 so far. For me to hire a van a drive to collect would cost more like £250 inc. fuel. So the above seems like a reasonable deal, assuming we can agree a price on this basis.

It may be of course that the seller wants more like £60 fuel deposit to cover the round trip, perhaps that is more fair given that the seller will embark on a 300 mile trip with no promise of a sale at the end.

Have any of you forum-ers done a similar thing, buying at a distance? What could possibly go wrong? Opinions welcome before I make what could be a costly mistake...perhaps I'm trying too hard to save £300 or so...

OK, even ignoring the fact I'm a self confessed cynic. What could possibly go wrong?

This has all the hall marks of a disaster after disaster written all over it, on the other hand things will turn out peachy

Personally & it's only my thinking.....bargepole, touching, out of the question.

If you must have the fridge/freezer, is there anyone you know that lives nearby that could take a look?

My thoughts too.

It's in Spondon, near Derby, but I don't know anyone near. I'm offering £800, others have gone on eBay for a similar amount, or less due to dents/marks from handling. Typical price in the "shops" is £1300, I can get it for £1115 with a discount, but I could do with saving more so as to be able to put some more carpet on the floor of the new extension...

Sounds like a reasonable compromise but there's always the chance that the seller just takes the "fuel deposit" and doesn't show up at all.

Probably best to try speaking to the seller on the 'phone rather than just by email, that way you can get a gauge of how serious they are and vice versa.

I drove to Bristol to collect a pair of speakers earlier this year and it all went well. Cost nearly £200 in fuel + hotel but worth it to know they wouldn't be destroyed in transit by a courier. Also drove to London to collect a CD player years ago and that all went fine too... was a good excuse for a run in the coupe too.

If only I could fit the fridge/freezer in one of our cars...

Actually the van hire is not so much, to hire a Luton Van (need 6'6" height) and drive up there will cost £160 in rental plus fuel, then the risk is all mine if I decide it's no good. And then there's another on eBay in Nottingham. Picking it up myself might be the safer option to still save a worthwhile amount of money.

Have you tried costco? Could maybe get a similar one locally (or delivered from their website) for under 1K new?

Buy New!! £800 plus hire van £160 plus fuel

I personally would sod the couple of hundred quid and buy new!!
You know what you are getting then and if there is a problem you have rights and a garantee!!!! plus you dont know whats been in the fridge and if they have cleaned it very well

They are my thoughts and without a shadow of a doubt my wifes!!

Good luck!

I think it's a false economy. For a few hundred quid more you get a warranty.

If he's willing to deliver for £30 I'd say go for it.

Get him to acknowledge an email from you which lays out what condition you expect it to be in based on his description and, provided it is in that condition, you confirm you will purchase it.

Worst case, you lose £30.

I would also pay new for an item at that cost.

You can be sure of what you will be receiving is immaculate, as above guaranteed and with delivery with assistance getting it into position likely.

Not worth the hassle for second hand.

If you insist on going down this route why not ask him to take a video of it inside and out showing exactly what condition it's in? At that outlay it's not an unreasonable request.

Could it be done "live" by FaceTime or something?

This. Costco have the best returns policy ever.

Costco don't have much choice unfortunately, but I like the thinking, and I agree about the returns policy! Anyway, awaiting a reply from the seller to my offer...still undecided myself

OK I think the deal is off. In the seller's latest email he proposed the following:
And then he gives me his name, address, mobile number and email address. The address is just a house, same as that shown on Gumtree. Mobile is connected with a local pub and an Autotrader car for sale where he is shown as a "dealer" rather than a private individual. He says I can like him on Facebook, and he's on 192.com which only provess that someone with the same name is on the electoral roll).

I only offered to pay a "fuel deposit" not the full amount, so the deal is off, I will tell him that he should try and sell locally, perhaps in his pub!

So then I see another one come up on Gumtree, at a place called Kermack Electronics. Website looks OK at first glance, but Gumtree ad says location is Watford. Address of electronics place is just a house, even though website has a showroom picture (looked at page source but can't find the link for the picture, suspect it's a generic picture). Customer testimonials are from all over the world (really?) including one that appears to have been lifted from Currys. Payment is only by direct transfer or "perfectmoney.com" which itself looks like a Western Union type con. Company is not listed at Companies House but does show up as non-limited company on companycheck.co.uk where the company number at least ties up with the website. But nothing else looks right. I did try to call and query them about the above but there was no reply, I suspect they would have hung up once I got started.

There was probably no answer because they were too busy setting up another scam on Loot. This one leads to a virtually identical web page for BNEFS (Brand New Electronics F***ing Scam, I suppose) with much the same wording and layout and wonderful bargains. Only this time the address is just a house near Hogarth Lane in West London (and Gumtree address is the rather nice Radisson Hotel at Heathrow Airport).

So whilst I may not be saving an apparent few hundred quid, I've had my money's worth spotting a few shady dealers

So John Lewis it is then, free 5 year warranty

If you can find all this information with a bit of judicious web-searching, why won't Gumtree do more stringent checks to help prevent these scams?

I've never, ever felt comfortable with anything on GumTree. I fear that what started as a great idea run by and for nice, worthy, honest people has become a scalping ground for the unwary and gullible. But I could easily be wrong!
Well done for doing your research, Dave.

In the past I have bought a mobile phone on Gumtree, but it was local and I could check it out as if it were an ad placed in a local newsagent.

Maybe it should be called GullibleTree?

MugTree?


Glad the outcome turned out to be a straightforward decision.

Caveat emptor mucho!

Not one to gloat (honestly) but I did say bargepole, touch, not.

Glad you found out before it was too late.

I've used Gumtree in the past locally, but we're out in the sticks practically up here,so no hiding place, even if things go a bit pear shape, which I've personally never come across.

I live nearby, it's only 5 miles away. I will visit them tomorrow morning, cause I want to buy a cooker from them. I will mention my experience with them on this blog, as soon as I'll be back.

Regards, Garry.

I hope you manage to find their 'showroom' !

Gumtree has been owned by ebay since 2005 for the sole purpose of making money from these scammers and thieves but not tarnishing the ebay brand. Use at your peril.

I was at the address listed on the contact page, and it seems that there's no showroom. There is a office that handles the online orders with only few products exposed. They said that the main deposit it is outside of Glasgow, and they handles all sales online. To get an order with them, I have to register with them and submit the order directly on their website. I would prefer to touch the cooker before buy it( ). Their prices are excellent, and this is how they get my attention so much. I've registered with them and placed an order using free delivery option. Now I have to wait for around 6 days to get this product...
It was very simple if the product was there, and if they offer the opportunity to purchase the product instantly by paying with cash. I had the cash in my hand and they refused to take my money, saying that all their activity is only online. They also said that all products listed on their website are brand new and comes with manufacturer's guarantee ( which is a good think on my opinion ). Finally, when I arrived at home, I've placed the order with them, and guess what? When I've tried to call them, the phone was answered by the same person whom I've spoken in the office. Any way, they said that the installation process is included in the price, so I'll mention on this blog the entire experience with this company.

I've asked them to open a showroom, as it appears on their website, and they said that the showroom option was tried 2 years ago, and it was more expensive than effective, as an sales option for their company. I believe that a lot of sales are made directly from showrooms, and this is a plus point for any electrical/electronic supplier. There are still a lot of people that refuse to buy from internet, and all orders that may come from them are lost ( It was my suggestion for them.. )

We will keep in touch.
Regards,
Garry